World Lacrosse Names Former Maryland Stars Jen Adams, Jess Wilk as Inaugural Legend Award Recipients
7/8/2026 3:38:00 PM | Women's Lacrosse
COLORADO SPRINGS, CO — World Lacrosse announced the inaugural class of the World Lacrosse Legend Award, honoring three athletes whose careers defined excellence in international women's lacrosse: Jen Adams of Australia and Cherie Greer Brown and Jess Wilk of the United States.
For Maryland, the announcement highlights the lasting impact of two Terrapin greats. Adams and Wilk each built Hall of Fame-caliber careers in College Park before becoming international icons, leaving an enduring mark on the sport at both the collegiate and global levels.
World Lacrosse President Bob DeMarco said: Jen, Cherie and Jess represent the very best of what our sport has produced. Each of them achieved greatness at multiple world championships and left an enduring mark not only in the record books but on every generation of players that followed. It is a privilege to honor them as the inaugural class of the World Lacrosse Legend Award.
Jen Adams (Australia) is one of the most decorated and gifted players in the history of international women's lacrosse. Adams was a gold medalist at the 2005 WL Women's Championship, where she led all players in points to claim one of two gold medals in Australia's history. Adams also claimed silver medals at the 2001 and 2009 championships. She was named captain of the Australian team for the 2013 championship, though injury prevented her from competing. Adams also captured gold at the inaugural WL Women's U19 Championship in 1995.
Adams authored one of the greatest careers in NCAA women's lacrosse history during her four seasons at Maryland (1998–2001). A three-time National Player of the Year and the inaugural recipient of the Tewaaraton Trophy in 2001, the Brighton, South Australia native led the Terrapins to four consecutive NCAA championships while rewriting the program's record book.
She finished her career with 267 goals, 178 assists, and 445 points, setting Maryland career records in all three categories. Her 445 career points still rank second in NCAA Division I history, while her 267 goals remain second all-time in Maryland history. During her senior season, Adams led the nation with 88 goals, 60 assists and 148 points, setting single-season school records after establishing the previous marks as a junior.
Beyond the field, Adams was a three-time All-American, a two-time Honda/Broderick Award winner (2000, 2001), a CoSIDA Academic All-American and a three-time National Attacker of the Year. She was also named ACC Female Athlete of the Year in 2000 and 2001, earned a place on the NCAA Division I Women's Lacrosse 25th Anniversary Team in 2007, and was inducted into the Maryland Athletics Hall of Fame in 2012.
Jess Wilk (United States) is a cornerstone of the United States program, excelling as a goalkeeper during the most dominant era in its history. Wilk won gold at three consecutive WL Women's Championships in 1993, 1997, and 2001. She added a silver medal at the 2005 championship and was named to the World Team. Wilk was also renowned for her leadership and was a team captain in 1997, 2001, and 2005.
Wilk was a standout student-athlete at the University of Maryland, earning All-America honors in both lacrosse and field hockey. A three-time All-American in field hockey from 1985–88, she helped lead the Terrapins to the 1986 NCAA Women's Lacrosse National Championship and the 1987 NCAA Field Hockey National Championship.
She was named the Most Valuable Player of the 1986 ACC Field Hockey Tournament and earned NCAA All-Tournament Team honors during Maryland's 1987 national championship run in field hockey. In 1990, Wilk also received Honorable Mention All-America recognition in women's lacrosse.
Wilk was inducted into the Maryland Athletics Hall of Fame in 2005 and the U.S. Lacrosse Hall of Fame in 2009. In 2017, she received the FIL Spirit of Lacrosse Award during the Women's Lacrosse World Cup in recognition of her outstanding contributions to the sport.
Following her playing career, Wilk returned to Maryland as an assistant coach, serving on both the Maryland women's lacrosse and field hockey coaching staffs from 1991–93.
Cherie Greer (United States) is one of the most decorated players of her era. Green won three gold medals at the WL Women's Championship in 1993, 1997, and 2001 – as well as the silver medal in 2005 – across four championship appearances, while serving as a captain in 2001 and 2005. A player of singular impact at the sport's biggest moments, Greer was named Player of the Championship Game in both 1997 and 2001. In 2000, she was recognized as a member of the Lacrosse Magazine All-Century Team.
The World Lacrosse Legend Award was established as the highest honor the International Federation bestows upon its athletes and serves as a precursor to an eventual World Lacrosse Hall of Fame. Recipients are selected through a rigorous process conducted by the WL Athlete Awards Selection Committee, with final approval by the World Lacrosse board. Criteria encompass competitive excellence at the highest levels of international play, as well as the integrity, leadership, and global impact that define true legends of the sport.
World Lacrosse will honor three men as the second Legend Award class at the 2027 WL Men's Championship in Japan.
